Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 35, Shloka 35

Adhyaya 35 — Madālasa’s Instruction on Purity, Impurity, and Corrective Rites (Śauca and Aśauca)

Sanskrit

सूतनिर्ग्यातकांश्चैव परदाररताश्च ये । एतदेव हि कर्तव्यं प्राज्ञैः शोधनमात्मनः ॥

Transliteration

sūtaniryātakāṃś caiva paradāraratāś ca ye / etad eva hi kartavyaṃ prājñaiḥ śodhanam ātmanaḥ

Translation

Likewise, with those connected to childbirth-impurity and with those who delight in another man’s wife: for the wise, what is truly to be done is the purification of oneself.

Word by Word

• sūta-niryātakān: those expelled by a charioteer (sūta)
• sūta-niryātakān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sūta (प्रातिपदिक) + niryātaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural; समास: सूतेन निर्ग्यातकाः (instrumental-tatpuruṣa sense)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• eva: indeed/just
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle of emphasis (निश्चय/अवधारणार्थक अव्यय)

• para-dāra-ratān: those devoted to others' wives
• para-dāra-ratān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक) + dāra (प्रातिपदिक) + rata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural; समास: परेषां दारेषु रताः (locative-tatpuruṣa sense)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• ye: who (those who)
• ye: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; relative pronoun (यत्-शब्द)

• etat: this
• etat: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; demonstrative pronoun

• eva: alone/indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle of emphasis (अवधारणार्थक अव्यय)

• hi: for/indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (हेतौ/निश्चये अव्यय)

• kartavyam: to be done/should be done
• kartavyam: Vidhi (विधेय/obligation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛ (धातु) + tavya (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: Gerundive/obligative (तव्यत्-कृदन्त); Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; agrees with etat

• prājñaiḥ: by the wise
• prājñaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prājña (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural

• śodhanam: purification
• śodhanam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śodhana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; apposition to etat/kartavyam

• ātmanaḥ: of oneself
• ātmanaḥ: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

Speakers

• Dharma-instruction voice within the Purāṇic discourse (didactic narration; not Devi Māhātmya)

Verse Rasa

{ "primaryRasa": "shanta", "secondaryRasa": "dharma", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }

Key Themes

• Dharma
• Śauca (purity)
• Sexual ethics
• Aśauca

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The verse links purity not only to ritual states (birth-impurity) but also to moral transgression (adultery). The ‘wise’ respond with self-purification—restoring discipline and dharmic orientation.

How does this fit the Pancalakṣaṇa (5 characteristics)?

Ancillary dharma/ācāra instruction.

What is the esoteric significance?

Adultery is treated as a subtle defilement of mind (saṅkalpa-doṣa). ‘Śodhana of oneself’ implies inner cleansing through restraint, confession/atonement frameworks, and re-centering the will.